A psychiatrist at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) has written to the state chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA), alleging that principal secretary health Sanjay Kumar insulted him over his clothing.

Dr N.P. Singh had gone to meet Sanjay on Wednesday over his promotion.

According to the doctor, he had unbuttoned the collar button of his shirt and the IAS officer ordered him to get out of the chamber.

Sanjay, however, said that the doctor’s shirt was almost totally unbuttoned.

“I had taken a prior appointment,” Singh said. “When I reached his chamber, he continued with his work for around 15 minutes and I was not even asked to be seated. Later on, he called me and told that my shirt was unbuttoned from above. I was wearing a bobby print royal blue shirt and a black Jockey vest could be seen through that.

“He told me rudely how could I go with unbuttoned shirt to his chamber and that it was indiscipline and intolerable for him. He immediately asked me to get out.”

There is no dress code for visiting government offices and if there was one he would have followed it, Singh added.

Sanjay said the psychiatrist was blowing up a non-issue.

“He came to me wearing an almost unbuttoned shirt. How can one visit the principal secretary, health, a government servant’s chamber, like that? I am not a private person. The doctor was not following the decorum and If I say so, what is wrong? I told him that I refuse to talk to people like that. Everyday I scold a lot of people and but does that become a news? Then we should not say anything to anyone because everyone will get hurt,” said Sanjay.

State IMA president Dr Sahjanand Prasad Singh said he had called a meeting on the issue and the IMA would take a stand only after checking the facts with both parties. He also hoped for an amicable solution to the issue.

Doctors were divided on the controversy.

“Does it look good if someone visits any office with unbuttoned shirt? There is no set norm or dress code to follow but one definitely has to consider what to wear and what not to wear when you are visiting an important place,” said a senior doctor associated with the IMA.

Another doctor felt the bureaucrat went overboard.

“Dr N.P. Singh happens to be a reputed doctor of the city,” he said. “He should not have been treated like this.”